Cold and Flu

That time of year is upon us once again. The cold and flu season begins as weather changes and temperatures become cooler. Even though the common cold and flu can affect people throughout the year, the height of the season will begin in October and November.

The first sign of a common cold appear a few days after exposure. Symptoms may vary but a person may feel soreness or burning in the throat. The soreness may follow with a runny nose, a sense of fatigue, and sneezing. As the virus rapidly moves through your body in the first few days of infiltration, you are the most contagious. As your symptoms progress, you may experience a runny nose, which may advance to a thick mucus, and a cough. The symptoms can last for a few days to a few weeks.

In the first few days of your, a family member’s, or colleague’s cold experience you are the most contagious. You may choose to take over the counter cold remedies. These remedies will help to keep your symptoms at bay. The over the counter remedies will not stop the spread of the virus. They are designed to help you feel better.

The cold and the flu are not the same animal, so to speak. The first thing you may notice as you develop symptoms of the flu is a sense of fatigue. Your sense of fatigue will usually follow with a fever. This is one of the first indicators you are experiencing the flu instead of a cold. Your flu symptoms will commonly come with body aches, headache, high fever, fatigue, weakness. The flu can lead to pneumonia for those that are immunocompromised, usually the elderly and infants. Anyone with respiratory issues should take caution with the flu.

How do you avoid acquiring a cold or the flu. The first thing to do is remain diligent when in public places. The virus of a cold or flu is commonly left on surfaces. The best thing to do is frequently wash your hands with soap and water. If you have not washed your hands, keep them away from you face until you have a chance to wash.

Viruses respond very well to sugar. A good thing to do is cut back or remove as much sugar as possible from you diet. The best way to do this is to remove sugary drinks and processed foods. Try to increase your diet with good fruits and vegetables.

A good prevention and symptom killer is chiropractic care. Chiropractic care focuses on restoring motion to the spine. A properly functioning spine can then properly stimulate the nervous system. As it receives its necessary stimuli, the nervous system can promote a health immunological response to a virus. An energized immune system can then mount an attack against the virus that has launched an invasion in your body. Chiropractic care is not a guarantee against getting a cold or the flu. I have seen people under chiropractic care have symptoms that are less severe than their colleagues, and the symptoms tend to have a shorter life span in the host. Chiropractic care is not only good for you at dealing with a cold or the flu but also your family and colleagues. If your symptoms are less severe and have a shorter duration it is less likely someone around you will contract the disease.